(CHICAGO January 30, 2005) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
(BCBSIL) recently announced the addition of new and innovative products to
its BlueEdge portfolio of consumer-directed health plans. The products are
designed to give consumers greater choice and control in directing the health
benefits provided by their employers, and to give employers greater flexibility
in how they can deliver on their health benefits strategy. They work by
combining the cost efficiency of a high deductible health plan with the
convenience of a PPO network and the funding advantages inherent in Health
Savings and Health Reimbursement Accounts.
"As health care costs continue to rise, employers and consumers are looking
for tools that can help them control and even reduce these costs," said Gail
Boudreaux, Executive Vice President of External Operations for Health Care
Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates in Illinois as BCBSIL. "Our
BlueEdge benefit designs empower employers to better manage health care
costs, while at the same time offering tools and incentives to help employees
make better health care decisions."
Currently, HCSC covers nearly 200,000 individuals under its portfolio of
consumer-directed health plans. Members enrolled in the new BlueEdge plans
were able to begin receiving benefits as of January 1. The recently added
products include:
* BlueEdge Wellness Rewards, for employers who would like to reward
employees for wellness activities such as physicals and other preventive care
services;
* BlueEdge FSA First, which offers Flexible Savings Accounts for employers
who want more flexibility in how healthcare dollars are accessed;
* BlueEdge Vitality, an innovative and cost-effective health plan option that
employers can use to help fund retiree benefits;
* Limited purpose HCA plans that are compatible with HSA products; and
* Integrated prescription drug plans.
Other plans currently available include:
* BlueEdge HCA (Health Care Account), which combines the advantages of
an employer funded health reimbursement account with rollover features, and
the efficiencies of a PPO network arrangement; and
* BlueEdge HSA, which provides the advantages of a member-owned,
portable, tax-advantaged Health Savings Account and a PPO network
The BlueEdge plans also include powerful online decision support and
education tools, such as the Treatment Cost Estimator and the Personal
Health Manager that help employees track and manage their health
expenditures on a personalized, secure Web site. Employees can earn
incentives and rewards for healthy choices, as well as access health and
wellness information and health provider comparison tools through seamlessly
integrated online educational and transactional capabilities.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has a well-deserved reputation for giving
its customers the products and tools that help them manage their costs and
their claims better than any other insurer in the state," said Paul Boulis,
President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. "Employers benefit from the
combined cost efficiencies of the BlueEdge products along with Blue Cross'
large contracting provider network, unparalleled customer service and
powerful online resources."
For more information about BCBSIL's new plans visit www.bcbsil.com.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service
Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC), is the largest and most
experienced health insurance company in the state. Currently, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Illinois provides health insurance coverage for more than
6.5 million people. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Association.